“There are no shadows in darkness. Shadows are created by light, and only exist in the presence of light. Refusing to acknowledge our shadow leads us to deny the presence of light in us.” ― Franco Santoro

“I live in the space of thankfulness – and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things, and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased. That’s because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on the goodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships, even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

This photo had the title “Dance Until Sunset”, my entry for the national competition of the Express Your Art Photo Contest III: Experience Fiesta by Thunderbird Resorts Asia in 2011. The Grand Prize won P250,000.00. Finalist entries of 50 among thousands who joined were impressive, showing you how colorful and imaginative the Philippine festivals truly are. So I am happy to have won a consolation prize. 🙂

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” ~Mary Lou Cook In my photography workshops, I talk of composition techniques to make your images look better. One is not to place your horizon along the middle of the frame so as not to “split” your image into two. Another is not to place your subject dead center on a photo. The idea is that an off-center composition is more pleasing to the eye and looks more natural (hence, the rule of thirds). Today, I decided to defy the rules and place my horizon and subject dead center. And if it isn’t aesthetically pleasing to anybody, it won’t be my problem at all.

At age 2, I was scribbling on walls, on my Dad’s books, writing or sketching on any paper I can get hold of. I started doodling, creating storybook sketches conjured from an imaginative young mind. I would draw, color, paint. I lived a life of curiosity, reading books at night while my parents propped me up on a stack of pillows during asthma attacks.

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